Journal of Occupational Health最新文献

{"title":"Validated method for measuring airborne concentrations of tert-butylphenols for occupational exposure assessment.","authors":"Akito Takeuchi, Ai Yamada, Tomiko Tashiro, Maika Inoue, Yuriko Miyama, Ryoko Imoto, Kyoko Adachi, Shinobu Yamamoto, Yoko Endo, Ginji Endo","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiag027","DOIUrl":"10.1093/joccuh/uiag027","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to develop a method for measuring airborne concentrations of tert-butylphenols (tert-BPs) to assess workers' occupational exposure.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Air samples were collected using an XAD-7 sorbent tube. tert-BPs were desorbed from the sorbent with methanol, and their concentrations in the desorbed solutions were determined via high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Method validation included evaluation of retention efficiency, storage stability, method quantitation limit, and reproducibility.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The retention efficiencies for 2-tert-BP, 3-tert-BP, and 4-tert-BP in the XAD-7 sorbent tube were 89%-97%, 93%-96%, and 95%-96%, respectively. Relative standard deviations, reflecting the overall reproducibility of the proposed method, ranged from 0.5% to 5.9% for all tert-BPs. tert-BPs remained stable on the XAD-7 sorbent tube for at least 7 days at 4°C. The method quantitation limit was 0.118 μg/sample for each tert-BP.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The developed method provides a robust and reproducible approach for assessing occupational exposure to airborne tert-BPs, enabling accurate determination within a concentration range of 0.8-160 ppb. This method can facilitate more precise risk assessments in occupational environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13251736/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147941788","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Differences in perceived return-to-work barriers between manual and nonmanual workers.","authors":"Shunsuke Inoue, Seiichiro Tateishi, Arisa Harada, Etsuko Hosoda, Masako Nagata, Koji Mori","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf075","DOIUrl":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf075","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Return-to-work (RTW) support has become a growing priority in occupational health. Manual workers-who constitute over half of the global labor force-may face greater RTW barriers due to the physically demanding nature of their jobs. However, few studies have quantitatively compared the perceived RTW barriers between manual and nonmanual workers. This study aimed to compare perceived RTW barriers between manual and nonmanual workers with chronic conditions to inform the development of tailored support strategies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We analyzed 219 employed adults, either actively working or on certified leave, who attended consultations at one particular hospital between September 2019 and June 2020 to obtain support for balancing work and medical treatment. Perceived RTW barriers were assessed with a validated 10-category yes/no structured checklist (personal: work ability/psychological/health literacy; workplace: structure/system/support; intersectoral/social). Logistic regression was performed to compare barriers between manual and nonmanual workers.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Manual workers were significantly more likely to report barriers related to psychological impacts (odds ratio [OR] = 2.34) and workplace systems (OR = 2.88). Although work ability did not differ significantly by job type, it was the most frequently reported RTW barrier in both groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Manual workers' RTW challenges are characterized by psychological and organizational barriers. RTW programs should assess psychological readiness before resumption of duties and provide managerial training to address anxiety and loss of confidence, while implementing job-specific accommodations such as phased tasks, ergonomic adjustments, and light duties in coordination with health care providers.</p>","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13043153/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145819717","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Occupational physicians' practices in supporting employees with long COVID: a mixed-methods study.","authors":"Yu Igarashi, Seiichiro Tateishi, Tomoko Sawajima, Arisa Harada, Juri Matsuoka, Mika Kawasumi, Koji Mori","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf078","DOIUrl":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf078","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study examined the support provided by occupational physicians (OPs) in Japan to employees with long COVID, a condition that significantly affected workforce health during the pandemic.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An exploratory cross-sectional mixed-methods design was employed, consisting of qualitative interviews followed by a questionnaire survey targeting OPs certified by the Japan Society for Occupational Health. The interviews explored actual experiences of supporting workers with long COVID, and the findings were used to develop the questionnaire. The survey and interview findings were integrated to describe overall occupational health (OH) practices.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Twenty OPs reported 30 cases of employees with long COVID in the interviews. Based on these findings, a questionnaire survey was conducted, yielding 182 valid responses. The integrated results showed that OPs most frequently reported \"Main OH responses\" such as active listening, return-to-work assistance, and lifestyle guidance. Measures such as explaining workers' compensation applications and preparing lists of outpatient clinics were less frequently reported. For \"Advice for employers,\" limitation of overtime, reduction of workload, and telework were commonly reported, whereas demotion and reassignment were rarely reported.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study clarified how OPs in Japan supported workers with long COVID through diverse, context-dependent practices. The identified main OH responses and advice for employers provide a framework for understanding current practices. Developing practical case examples, structured assessment tools, and workplace guidelines, together with further research grounded in real-world practice, will enhance OPs' ability to provide appropriate support and strengthen preparedness for future health crises.</p>","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12965807/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145850272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Occupational radiation exposure of zoo veterinarians during x-ray procedures: a real-time dosimetry study.","authors":"Keisuke Nagamoto, Aina Yamamoto, Noriko Takahashi, Ayako Nii, Masaoki Kohzaki, Ryuji Okazaki","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf064","DOIUrl":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf064","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>We used real-time dosimetry for the quantitative evaluation of occupational radiation exposure among zoo veterinarians and animal keepers during x-ray procedures to identify key procedural and contextual determinants of exposure variation.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective observational study analyzed 251 radiographic procedures at multiple zoological facilities in Japan. Occupational exposure was measured in real time with a semiconductor dosimeter that recorded the personal dose equivalent, Hp(10), at 1-second intervals. Procedural variables included professional role, manual restraint, sedation or anesthesia, equipment type, tube voltage (kVp), and tube current-time product (mAs). Between-group comparisons were conducted using nonparametric tests, and multiple linear regression was used to identify the independent predictors of occupational exposure.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The overall median Hp(10) per procedure was 0.35 (IQR: 0.15-0.99) μSv. Veterinarians received significantly higher doses than animal keepers (P = .006). Elevated Hp(10) values were associated with procedures involving large-bodied carnivores, performed without manual restraint or sedation. Multivariate analysis identified 5 significant predictors-professional role (β = -.75), manual restraint (β = -.24), tube voltage (β = .43), tube current-time product (β = .11), and large-animal group (β = .34)-explaining 60.4% of the variance (adjusted R2 = 0.604).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Despite the overall low exposure levels, some procedures resulted in Hp(10) values exceeding 10 μSv. A combination of procedural and contextual factors influenced exposure. These findings underscore the importance of comprehensive radiation-protection strategies, including optimized workflows, appropriate use of sedation, and standardized operator protocols, in alignment with international dose-optimization principles.</p>","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12689550/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145489056","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Factors influencing collaboration between occupational health nurses and human resources personnel in supporting the return to work of employees with mental health problems: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Naoko Murono, Rie Okamoto, Yukari Nakada, Satomi Ikeuchi, Yutaro Takahashi, Ryota Kumakura, Hiromi Yonezawa, Hisae Tsukada, Shizuko Omote","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiag039","DOIUrl":"10.1093/joccuh/uiag039","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Collaboration between occupational health nurses and human resources (HR) personnel is essential in supporting the return to work of employees with mental health problems. However, the factors influencing this collaboration are unclear, and this study therefore aimed to examine these factors.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among 3049 occupational health nurses from the Japan Society for Occupational Health, and responses from 528 participants were analyzed. Collaboration was measured using the Japanese version of the Relational Coordination Survey (J-RCS). Independent variables included individual factors relating to both occupational health nurses and HR personnel, relational factors, workplace climate factors, and organizational justice. Structural equation modeling was used to examine associations with J-RCS scores.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean J-RCS score was 3.58 (SD = 0.79), indicating a moderate level of collaboration. Structural equation modeling showed that relational factors (β = .75, P < .001) and organizational justice (β = .40, P = .003) had significant direct effects on collaboration. Individual factors relating to occupational health nurses or HR personnel, and workplace climate factors, showed no direct effects but contributed indirectly through associations with other factors. The model explained 88.8% of the variance in J-RCS scores.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Enhancing the quality of relationships, including trust and information sharing, and improving organizational justice, are crucial for strengthening collaboration in support for return to work. This study provides practical intervention targets and useful insights for improving occupational health policies and practices.</p>","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13464725/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148536248","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Health of teleworkers: a scoping review on the assessment of the work-from-home environment.","authors":"Megumi Oda, Yuu Yoshimori, Takuya Yamada, Shiho Amagasa, Yoshiharu Fukuda","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiag007","DOIUrl":"10.1093/joccuh/uiag007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Inappropriate telework environments, including work-from-home (WFH) settings, have been linked to physical and mental health problems. However, no systematic assessment has been conducted regarding the WFH environment (WFH-E). The aim of this study was to clarify the current methods used to assess the WFH-E and its association with health- and work-related outcomes through a scoping review.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Ichushi for literature published since 2010 on WFH-E assessment. Based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines, assessment methods were summarized using 18 items categorized into 9 domains. Additionally, associations between the WFH-E and health- and work-related outcomes were reviewed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 1669 articles collected, 37 studies published from 2020 were ultimately included in this review. Thirty-four articles involved subjective assessments, and 9 involved objective assessments. The most frequently assessed item was artificial lighting, followed by thermal conditions and noise. Items such as color, greenery, building materials, and odor were rarely assessed. Most studies showed significant associations between the WFH-E and health- and work-related outcomes.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Studies on the WFH-E increased following the COVID-19 pandemic, showing significant associations between the WFH-E and health- and work-related outcomes. However, most assessments were subjective, with objective assessments remaining rare. Additionally, the assessment items were limited and biased, indicating that interior design elements were insufficiently assessed. Developing additional objective and comprehensive methods for assessing the WFH-E is needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13089553/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146150117","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Letter to the Editor regarding \"Association between sedentary behavior and sleep quality among urban white-collar workers with or at risk of metabolic syndrome: a secondary analysis of a randomized 3-month workplace lifestyle intervention trial\".","authors":"Hao Shi, Kaiyang Xu, Chen Zhao, Yonggang Zhu","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiag008","DOIUrl":"10.1093/joccuh/uiag008","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13025056/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146227111","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sickness absence due to common mental disorders and antidepressant prescription among health and social care workers during compared with before the COVID-19 pandemic: a nationwide register study of the Swedish population.","authors":"Stefanie Kirchner, Katalin Gémes, Pontus Josefsson, Josep Maria Haro, Mireia Felez-Nobrega, Heidi Taipale, Marit Sijbrandij, Anke B Witteveen, Maria Melchior, Giulia Caggiu, Claudia Conflitti, Antonio Lora, Matteo Monzio Compagnoni, Jakob Bergström, Ellenor Mittendorfer-Rutz","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf067","DOIUrl":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf067","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Essential workers, particularly in health care and social services, were critical during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, yet their mental health outcomes remain understudied. We examined changes in (1) sickness absence (SA) due to common mental disorders (CMDs), and (2) antidepressant prescription in health and social care workers during versus pre-pandemic periods.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using Swedish national registers, we included health care and social workers (aged 19-65 years) from 2018 to 2021. We compared quarterly incidence rate (IR) trends for SA >90 days due to CMDs, and for antidepressant prescriptions, across 2 periods: pre-pandemic (January 2018 to February 2020) and during the pandemic (March 2020 to December 2021) using interrupted time-series analysis. Analyses accounted for seasonality and were stratified by age, sex, and education.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There was no evidence of a difference in IR trends for SA >90 days or for antidepressant prescription pre-pandemic versus during the pandemic for the entire sector. However, trends of IR for antidepressant prescription increased among workers in medical laboratories (8.7% per quarter change; 95% CI, 4.4%-13.1%) and hospitals (1.5%; 95% CI, 0.6%-2.5%) and decreased per quarter for ambulance transports (5.4%; 95% CI, 0.4-10.0%). Women (10.9%; 95% CI, 7.2%-14.7%) and highly educated individuals (10.0%; 95% CI, 4.1%-16.1%) working in medical laboratories as well as 19-25-year-olds working in primary and dental care (7.3%; 95% CI, 1.7%-13.1%) also experienced an increase in antidepressant prescription.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Although overall trends in SA >90 days and in antidepressant prescription remained stable, certain occupational and sociodemographic groups were found to be affected in regard to antidepressant prescription. These groups warrant targeted support in future health crises.</p>","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13043154/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145604307","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Is the right to disconnect a testable organizational hypothesis for physiological recovery? A comment on after-hours ICT use.","authors":"Carlo Aresti","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiag045","DOIUrl":"10.1093/joccuh/uiag045","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13540716/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148701595","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sedentary time by occupation in a nationally representative Japanese population: a descriptive study using the National Health and Nutrition Survey.","authors":"Noritoshi Fukushima, Hiroyuki Kikuchi, Shiho Amagasa, Masaki Machida, Takashi Nakagata, Rei Ono, Shigeru Inoue","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiag003","DOIUrl":"10.1093/joccuh/uiag003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Prolonged sitting time is gradually being recognized as detrimental to health. As technological advances have made workplaces increasingly sedentary, describing sitting time by occupation is useful for identifying at-risk groups and promoting occupational health. This study aimed to elucidate the differences in sedentary time according to occupation using a nationally representative sample.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Self-reported total sedentary (sitting or lying down during waking hours) time was obtained from the 2013 National Health and Nutrition Survey. Occupations were classified as professionals, managers, clerks, sales, service, protective services, agricultural/forestry/fishery workers, transport/machine operators, manufacturing/construction/cleaning laborers, homemakers, and unemployed individuals. Sedentary time by occupation was compared using an analysis of covariance adjusted for age and sex.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 4071 workers aged 20-64 years were analyzed. Age-adjusted sedentary time was longer in men than in women. The age-adjusted sedentary time among different occupations ranged from 280 to 499 min/d. The longest age-adjusted sedentary time was observed among clerks (499 min/d), followed by managers (437 min/d). In contrast, the shortest sedentary time was observed among agricultural/forestry/fishery workers (280 min/d). Clerks and managers had longer sedentary time on weekdays than on days off, whereas other occupations, including homemakers, did not.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Sedentary time differed substantially among occupations, with a variation of approximately 3.5 h/d. Prolonged sedentary time, a known health risk, may represent a substantial occupational exposure, particularly among clerical workers. Occupational health staff should monitor workers' sedentary time to promote better occupational health outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13082221/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146030055","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}